Drinking fountain



Feb, 3. R. B. HILLS DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed Aug. 1, 2

n A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

1,525,186 PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES REUBEN B. HILLS, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PUB-O SANI- TAR/Y DRINKING FOUNTAIN COMPANY, OF HAYDENVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A COPARTNER-SHIP CONSISTING OF CHRISTIAN J. HILLS, HENRY M. HILLS, AND

REUBEN B. HILLS.

DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

Application filed August 1, 1923. Serial No. 655,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. HILLS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Northampton, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Drinking Fountain, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sanitary drinking fountains, and consists essentially of a bowl which is provided with a peculiarly shaped or constructed, aperture, and preferably integral, domed enclosure, hood, or cowl having a water inlet and being equipped with a nozzle arranged to project the water through the aperture in such cowl, together with the necessary supply regulating, controlling, and waste means, all as hereinafter set forth.

It is essential, in order to produce a really sanitary drinking fountain which insures an uncontaminated stream of water, and in accordance with scientific principles, such as those set out in Public Health Reports, May 11, 1917, and other Government publications, that the nozzle, from which the stream issues, shall be arranged to prevent the stream and the droppings from the mouth of the person drinking from falling back into the nozzle and such drippings from being carried back by the stream to the nozzle, and so situated as to be out of the reach of the mouth or the fingers of the person drinking, in fact, the construction must be of a nature to prevent the person drinking from being able to bring his mouth or fingers into contact with any part of the nozzle, and the primary object of my invention is to produce a drinking fountain which, being free from all of these objections, meets the requirements of sanitation, because it is so constructed that the stream therefrom is projected in a curved line over the bowl of the fountain, into the interior of which bowl the stream finally falls, and it is necessary for the person drinking to apply hismouth at or near the crest of the stream some considerable distance from the orifice from which the stream issues, and at a point where the water after it passes his lips can not flow over or come into contact with the nozzle through which the water is delivered to the drinking point or location. Whatever water comes into contact with the lips of the person drinking without being swallowed is received into the bowl and escapes through the waste-ways which are entirely separate from the supply-ways In my fountain the water is caused to flow from a protected nozzle in a stream which does not contact with the walls of the bowl until after it has passed through the drinking field, or, in any event, is in position to fall into parts of the bowl with which the water for consumption never comes into con tact.

Another object is to produce a drinking fountain of this character which is comparatively simple in construction and operation, strong and durable, and withal highly eflicient and practicable.

The most essential feature of the invention is the cowl with its interior inlet and discharge nozzle, and inset discharge orifice, whereby the stream of water is completely protected from contamination.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan, on a reduced scale, of a drinking fountain which emodies a practical form of my invention; Fig. 2, a central, vertical section through said fountain; Fig. 3, an enlarged top plan of one of the regulating screws; Fig. 4:, a cross section through the lower part of the fountain, taken on lines 4-4, looking down, in Fig. and, Fig. 5, a central, vertical section through the fountain taken at right-angles tothat shown inFig. 2. I

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

As necessary adjuncts to the present invention suitable means must be provided for supplying the water thereto, regulating and controlling the water, and taking care of the waste water, and to this end I have illustrated and will describe certain means of this character, but it is to be understood that I do not desire or intend to be restricted to the same, since I may employ in part or in whole other means which are adequate for the purpose.

. supply pipe nor the' waste' pipe being shown.

The body 1 also has another horizontal, hol low extension (5 at right-angles to the extension 2. In the upperend of the body 1 is an annular chamber 7 which opens at the top through said body and at the bottom into avertical passage 8 in said body at one side of the vertical center thereof. The passage 8 opens at the bottom into the extens' )D 3 wherein is a chamber 9. {Thus it is seen that there is a continuous waste passageway from the chamber 7 through the passage 8 and the chamber 9 to the open terminal or outlet 5.

Rising from the body 1, through the center of the chamber 7, is an externally and internally screw-threaded nipple 10. This nipple extends above the body 1, and opens at its inner or bottom end, through a tapered seat 11, into a central chamber 12 in the upper part of said body.

Located in about the center of the body 1, and with its axis in line with the axis of the passage in the extension 6, is vertical valve-seat 13, such passage being indicated. by the numeral 14 and continuing into said body. A short, vertical passage 15 connects the chamber 12 with the passage 14, on the outer side of the valve-seat 13, and the passage in the extension 2, which is indicated by the numeral lti, extends into the body 1, as shown at 44 in Fig. 4, past the opposite side of said valve-seat. A water passageway for the supply is thus formed, being made up of the passage 16, the opening through .the valve-seat 13, the passages 14 and 15, the chamber 12, the opening throughthe seat 11, and the passage in the nipple 10, the latter passage being indicated by the numeral 17.

The valve-seat 13 is normally closed by means of a. valve 18 held against said seat in front by a spring 19, such valve and spring being in the passage 14. The valve 18 has a stem 20 which operates through a cap 21 at the front end of the extension 6, which stem is provided with a pair of cam levers 22 pivoted at 28 to the outer end thereof. These members constitute a selfclosing valve of well-known construction, application, and operation.

Two regulating screws and 25, the

former being the regulator proper and the latter serving as a set-screw therefor, are located in the nipple 10. The escape of the water from the nipple 10, regardless of the pressure behind said water,cis controlled by the proper regulation or adjustment of the screws 24 and 25. Both of the screws are made tapering or conical at their bases, but the bottom end of the upper screw 25 may be blunted while the corresponding end of the screw 24 is sharp. The taper of the screw 24 preferably corresponds with that of the seat 11, and said screw is recessed in the center of the top to receive the blunted end of the screw 25. The screws have screwdriver slots 26 in their large ends, and the sides of the screw 24 are grooved longitudinally, as represented at27. The screws 24 and 25 might be made alike so as to be interchangeable.

structurally and functionally the regulating screws 24 and 25 are similar to those which form part of the subject of United States Letters Patent, No. 1,075,373, issued October 14,1913.

- In practice the screw 24 is set at the properdistance above the seat 11 and the screw 25 is seated thereon to lock it in place, and the water passes upwardly through said seat and the grooves 27 in said screw 24 into the space in the passage 17 between said screws, and then rearwardly into a tube or pipe 28 that opens at its forward end into the passage 17 through the nipple 10, just the right volume of water to produce the required stream for drinking purposes being thus permitted to escape. A cap 29 and a washer or packing 45 are provided at the upper end of the nipple 10 in order tightly to close the latter at the top, while at the same time affording means for obtaining access to the screws in the passage 17 for the purpose of adjusting or readjusting the same.

,The regulatorscrew is adjusted to any given water pressure, after removing the cap 29 and taking out the screw 25,"by turning said first-named screw up or down until it will admit the amount of water, through the seat 11, needed to produce a stream for drinking purposes which is of the required size and has the required amount of projection. Theamount of adjustment which the screw 24 requires to produce the desired results can always be ascertaineddiy a little experiment. After properly positioning the screw 24, the screw 25 is returned to place and the cap 29 again screwed onto the nipple 10. The syncebetween the seat 11 and the base ofthe screw 24 must be less for a high than for a low pressure.

A waste basinor bowl 230 is mounted on and secured to the body 1 over the chamber 7 into which said bowl opensthrough holes 31 in the bottom thereof. The bottom of the bowl 30 has a central opening therein to receive the nipple 10, the sides of such opening being screw-threaded to engage the .-'cre\\'-tl1reads on the outside of said nipple, and said bowl has a depending flange 32 which fits around the upper terminal of the body 1. In assembling, the bowl 30 is first placed on the nipple l0 and screwed down tightly onto the upper edge of the body 1, and then, after the regulating screws 24 and 25 have been properly adjusted, the cap 29 is screwed onto said nipple.

The bowl 30 has a rear extension 33 and a front extension 34, although such bowl, if of sufficient size, might be made round. The present shape is preferred. Rising from and forming a part of the extension 33 is a hood or cowl 35. In the front side of the cowl is an elliptical, discharge opening or orifice 36 arranged with its longitudinal axis in the vertical center of said side. The bottom of the orifice 36 is a little above the horizontal plane of the top of the main body of the bowl 30. The front side of the cowl 35 is concave so that the orifice 36 sets back or is under the upper edge of said cowl, consequently no dirt or other substance can enter said orifice from a point directly above or even somewhat forward of the. same, and the edges thereof are protected from any particles of matter that might drop from the mouth of a person while in the act of drinking. The chamber within the cowl 35, which chamber is indicated by the numeral 37, in addition to opening in front through the orifice 36 above the level of the main portion of the bowl 30, opens at the bottom, at 38, into said bowl and onto the bottom of the same.

The pipe 28 extends rearwardly from the nipple 10, through a passage provided in the thicker, central, base portion of the bowl 30 for said pipe, behind said base portion, and beneath the extension 33, and then upwardly. The upper terminal of the pipe 28 is received within the cowl 35 and securely fastened therein by some suitable means or in some other suitable manner, as represented at 39. A nozzle 40 has a flange 41 at the base which is received on the pipe 28 and the solder or other filling 39, beneath an annular shoulder 42 formed within the cowl 35 and an integral, tubular part 43 of said cowl. The pipe 28 at the upper end discharges into the nozzle 40, and the latter at the upper end discharges into the chamber 37. The nozzle 40 extends a little above the upper edge of the tubular part 43, but is some distance below the bottom edge of the orifice 36, and said nozzle is positioned at such an angle that the stream of water passing through the same into the chamber 37 escapes through the orifice 36 without touching the edges thereof, and arches over to descend into the bowl 30, the general direction of such stream being indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2. The mouth is applied at or near the apex or high point of this stream while in the act of drinking, hence does not come into contact with any part of the cowl or of the discharging members, and, at the same time, the act of drinking is rendered easy and convenient.

The inlet to the chamber 37 is located below the transverse center and at the back thereof, the tubular part 43, which assists in forming such inlet being an extension from the rear wall of said chamber and located in the lower part, although not at the bottom, thereof.

It is necessary that the nozzle 40 be set at the proper angle to throw the stream through the approximate center of the orifice 36, and to this end it is preferred that said nozzle be made of ductile material so that the proper angle can be given thereto without difficulty, merely by inserting an instru ment through the orifice 36 down into the nozzle, and bending the same to whatever extent may be required. The opening within the tubular part for the nozzle 40 is of sufficient size to enable said nozzle to be adjusted in the manner just described.

' When it. is desired to drink, the handles of the cam levers 22 are pressed together to open the valve 18, and the mouth is applied to the stream projected from the nozzle 40 through the orifice 36 in the cowl 35. The water admitted to the passage 14, when the valve 18 is opened, passes therefrom through the passage 15, the chamber 12, the seat 11, the passages 27 in the screw 24, the passage 17, the pipe 28, and the nozzle 40, into the chamber 37 and out through the orifice 36. The water does not impinge on the walls of the chamber 37 or the edges of the orifice 36. As soon as the aforesaid handles are released, the valve 18 closes and the water is cut off from the passage 14 and the waterways leading to the chamber 37. More or less water, especially at the time the flow is shut off, escapes from the nozzle 40 into the chamber 37 Without passing through the orifice 36, and such water runs down and out through the opening 38 into the bowl 30, and escapes from said bowl through the openings 31, the chamber 7, the passage 8, and the chamber 9 to the outlet 5, as does also the waste from the stream projected through the orifice 36., except that this does not, of course, pass through the opening 38, and, if any backs up through said opening, no harm is done because the opening is Well below the nozzle 40. The drippings from the mouth while drinking descend into the bowl in front of the cowl and at a sufficient distance from the orifice 36 to clear the edges thereof, or, if such drippings do touch such edges, they can not come into contact with the nozzle 40, but merely run down, either inside or outside of the front wall of. the cowl 35 into the bowl 30. Any drippings that by chance enter the cowl 85 through the orifice 36 drop down between the front wall of said cowl and the nozzle f0, and pass through the opening 38 into the bowl, without coming into contact with said nozzle at any point.

Itisclearly to be seen from the foregoing that, in my fountain, the discharge nozzle isso protected by the enclosing walls of the cowl as to be out of reach of mouth and fingers, and so situated back of the perpendicular line of the orifice, through which the water from the nozzle passes, as to escape contamination from mouth and other drippings, which always clear the nozzle. The cowl, with its concave face, and which furnishes the housing for the discharge nozzle, is the element that insures the desired freedom from contamination, and, therefore, of primary importance in this fountain.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement ofv some or all of the parts and members which enter into the fountain asherein disclosed, in addition to those hereinbefore specifically pointed out, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

lVhat I claim as my. invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drinking fountain, a bowl provided with a hollow cowl the front side of which is concave and has .in the deepest part thereof an orifice, a tubular supply member leading to the entrance of said cowl, and a nozzle in said cowl in communication with said tubular member, andarranged to pro; ject a stream through said orifice into said bowl.

2. The combination, in a drinking fountain, with abody having supply andwaste passageways therein, and provided with a nipple, screwethreaded regulating means in saidnipple, and a cap, onsaid nipple, of a bowl mounted on said body around said nipple, andopening into said waste passageway, said bowl being provided with a hollow cowl which rises therefrom and has an orifice in the front side thereof, a tubular member between said nipple and the interior of said cowl, and a nozzle in said cowl in communication with said tubular; member, and arranged to project a stream through saidorifice and over into said bowl.

3. In a. drinking fountain, a bowl provided with a housing having a front side which-is perforated and recedes at all points from the top and side edges of the housing, the latter opening beneath said front side into said bowl, and a nozzle within said housing below and behind said perforation, the construction and'arrangement of-parts being suchthat water from said nozzle may be. discharged through said perforation, in a parabolic curve; I

4. In a drinking fountain, a bowl provided with a superimposed housing, which housing risesapproximately vertically from the bowl and has a front side which is concave and in which at a distance below the top is an opening, the portions of said side that surround. said opening inclining outwardly and forwardly in all directions therefrom to -shield or protect the edges of the opening from drippings, and a nozzle. in said housing below and behind said opening, the construction and arrangement of; 

